A university spokeswoman said the schools trustees voted unanimously at their meeting this month to rescind the doctor of humane letters bestowed upon Armstrong in 2006.

During his keynote speech in which he revealed a Tufts cycling jersey beneath his academic robes, Armstrong talked about his battle with testicular cancer and the need for everyone to get involved.

He told graduates: Be active. Be involved. Be heard. Be aggressive. Be smart. Dont be afraid.

The university said Wednesday that while respecting Armstrongs cancer-fighting efforts, the board concluded his actions as an athlete are inconsistent with the values of the university.

Armstrong was stripped of seven Tour De France titles after the U.S. anti-doping agency revealed evidence of performance-enhancing drug use.

Armstrong also lost longtime bike sponsor Trek along with a host of other product sponsors.

college football

ESPN to televise playoffs after 2014 season

NEW YORK  The college football playoff system will be televised on ESPN for 12 years once it starts after the 2014 season, the network said Wednesday.

The title game will be played on a Monday, at least a week after the semifinals.

The deal is worth close to $500 million a year, a person with knowledge of the terms said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the fee had not been announced.

ESPNs current four-year contract to air the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta bowls along with the BCS title game is worth about $125 million per year.

ESPN will own the rights to all six bowls involved in the four-team playoff system.

Conference commissioners had decided that the two semifinals would rotate among those half-dozen sites; the four not involved each year will host major bowl games similar to the current BCS contests.

The title game will be bid out each season through a separate process, as the Super Bowl is for the NFL.

youth football

Utah girl earns likeness on huge box of Wheaties

SALT LAKE CITY  A 9-year-old Utah girl who plays little-league football can claim a Wheaties cereal box.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Samantha Gordon of Herriman goes by the nickname Sweet Feet.

Gordon ran for more than 2,000 yards and scored 35 touchdowns in a just-completed season for the Gremlin Division of the Ute Conference  football for little leaguers.

The girls performance has gone viral on YouTube, making her something of a sports celebrity. She appeared Wednesday on Good Morning America with her likeness on a custom-made box of Wheaties.

General Mills Inc. told The Associated Press its a one-of-a-kind box  Samanthas image wont be used on Wheaties boxes sold in stores.

nhl

Coyotes deal in Glendale hits financial snag

GLENDALE, Ariz. A deal to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in the citys arena is too expensive for the city, Glendales interim city manager said.

The deal might be in the best long-term interests of the city but would require $6 million in additional general fund cuts on top of $12 million already expected because of a budget crunch, interim City Manager Horatio Skeete told the City Council at Tuesday.

He said he could not recommend the deal he helped renegotiate because making $20 million in cuts could mean cutting about 200 positions in the next five years.